Selected Writings of Girolamo Savonarola: Religion and Politics, 1490-1498

436 Pages·1.371 MB·English

by  Borelli Anne, Pastore Passaro Maria (eds.)

Italian Literature and Thought Series
The Italian Literature and Thought Series makes available in English represen-
tative works of Italian culture. Although the series focuses on the modern and
contemporary periods, it does not neglect the humanistic roots of Italian thought.
The series includes monographs, anthologies, and critically updated republications
of canonical works, as well as works of general interest.
advisory board
Peter Carravetta
City University of New York
Umberto Eco
University of Bologna
Giuseppe Mazzotta
Yale University
Lucia Re
University of California, Los Angeles
Massimo Riva
Brown University
Paolo Valesio
Columbia University
Rebecca West
University of Chicago
Selected Writings of
Girolamo Savonarola
Religion and Politics, 1490–1498
TranslatedandeditedbyAnneBorelliandMariaPastorePassaro
Donald Beebe, Executive Editor
Introduction by Alison Brown
Foreword by Giuseppe Mazzotta
Yale University Press New Haven and London
Copyright(cid:1)2006byYaleUniversity.
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Savonarola,Girolamo,1452–1498.
[Selections.English.2005]
SelectedwritingsofGirolamoSavonarola:religionandpoli-
tics,1490–1498/translatedandeditedbyAnneBorelliandMa-
riaPastorePassaro;DonaldBeebe,executiveeditor.
p.cm.—(Italianliteratureandthoughtseries)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN-13:978-0-300-10326-7
ISBN-10:0-300-10326-3(alk.paper)
1.Florence(Italy)—Politicsandgovernment—1421–1737. 2.
Florence(Italy)—Churchhistory. 3.CatholicChurch—Italy—
Florence—History. 4.Savonarola,Girolamo,1452–1498. I.
Borelli,Anne. II.PastorePassaro,MariaC. III.Beebe,
Donald. IV.Title. V.Series.
DG737.97.A613 2005
282'.092—dc22
2005050073
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Library.
Thepaperinthisbookmeetstheguidelinesforpermanenceand
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LongevityoftheCouncilonLibraryResources.
10987654321
To Donald Weinstein

Contents
List of Illustrations x
Foreword by Giuseppe Mazzotta xi
Acknowledgments by Donald Beebe xiii
Introduction by Alison Brown xv
Text Sources xxxvi
Biblical Abbreviations and Equivalencies xxxviii
PASTORAL MINISTRY 1
Amos and Zacharias, Sermon XLIV (The Art of Living Well):
Good Friday, 1 April 1496 3
Ruth and Micheas, Sermon XXVIII, “The Art of Dying Well”:
All Souls’ Day, 2 November 1496 33
PROPHECY 57
Psalms, Sermon III, “Renovation Sermon”:
Octave of the Epiphany, 13 January 1495 59
A Dialogue concerning Prophetic Truth, 1496–97 77
POLITICS 137
Aggeus, Sermon VII (On Social Order):
First Sunday of Advent, 28 November 1494 139
Aggeus, Sermon XIII (The Venetian Model for Republican
Florence): Third Sunday of Advent, 12 December 1494 151
Aggeus, Sermon XXIII (Florence, God’s Chosen City):
28 December 1494 163
Treatise on the Rule and Government of the City of Florence: 1498? 176
MORAL REFORM I 207
Carnival: 16 February 1496 209
Luca Landucci, A Florentine Diary: 16–29 February 209
Letter from Paolo de Somenzi to Lodovico Sforza, Duke of
Milan: 16 February 1496 211
Pseudo-Burlamacchi, La vita del Beato Ieronimo Savonarola 212
Palm Sunday Procession/Monte di Pieta`: 27 March 1496 222
Amos and Zacharias, Sermon XL 222
vii
viii Contents
Girolamo Benivieni, “Viva ne nostri cuori, o Florentia” 231
Luca Landucci, A Florentine Diary: 27 March 1496 238
Piero Parenti, Storia fiorentina 239
Pseudo-Burlamacchi, La vita del Beato Ieronimo Savonarola 241
Bonfire of Vanities I: 7 February 1497 244
Girolamo Benivieni, “Da che tu ci hai, Signore” 244
Piero Parenti, Storia fiorentina 251
Iacopo Nardi, Istorie della citta` di Firenze 253
Pseudo-Burlamacchi, La vita del Beato Ieronimo Savonarola 256
SILENCING AND EXCOMMUNICATION 259
Silencing 261
Letter from Pope Alexander VI to Savonarola: 21 July 1495 261
Letter from Savonarola to Pope Alexander VI: 31 July 1495 262
Letter from Pope Alexander VI to the Brothers of Santa
Croce: 8 September 1495 265
Letter from Savonarola to Pope Alexander VI:
29 September 1495 268
Letter from Pope Alexander VI to Savonarola:
16 October 1495 278
Open Letter to a Friend: end of 1495 280
Excommunication 290
Open Letter to All the Elect: 8 May 1497 290
Letter from Savonarola to Pope Alexander VI: 20 May 1497 295
Open Letter to All Christians: 19 June 1497 297
Letter from Savonarola to Pope Alexander VI: 25 June 1497 301
Open Letter against the Recently Imposed Sentence of
Excommunication: end of June 1497 303
Letter from Savonarola to Pope Alexander VI:
13 October 1497 308
Letter from Savonarola to Pope Alexander VI:
13 [3] March 1498 309
Alternate Version 310
MORAL REFORM II 313
Bonfire of Vanities II: 27 February 1498 315
Exodus, Sermon III: Quinquagesima Sunday,
25 February 1498 315
Luca Landucci, A Florentine Diary: 27 February 1498 336
Piero Parenti, Storia fiorentina 337
Iacopo Nardi, Istorie della citta` di Firenze 339
Contents ix
Letter from Paolo de Somenzi to Lodovico Sforza, Duke of
Milan: 27 February 1498 343
Pseudo-Burlamacchi, La vita del Beato Ieronimo Savonarola 345
LAST MOMENTS 349
Savonarola’s Execution: 22 May 1498 351
Luca Landucci, A Florentine Diary: 22 May 1498 351
Simone Filipepi, Estratto della cronaca 353
Lorenzo Violi, Le Giornate 354
Postmortem 355
Marsilio Ficino, Apologia contra Savonarolam 355
Francesco Guicciardini, History of Florence 360
AFTERLIFE 363
Index 369